Condenser deaerator



'June 7, 1960 G. A. WORN ETAL 2,939,685

CONDENSER DEAERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 14, 1955 INVENTO RS 65m: A. Wm BY 6m IKE/4M7, ./c.

A ENT line 11 of Figure 2;

2,939,685 CONDENSER DEAERATOR George A. Worn, Greenwich, Conn., and- George W.

Evans, In, Teaneck, NJ., assignors to The Lummus Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 195-5, set. No. 553,006

3Claims. (Cl. 257-43 This invention relates to improvements in steam power plant equipment and more particularly to'irnproved condensing and deaerating apparatus for such a plant and this application is a continuation-in-part of our copending the condensate is heatediby steam which may be bled from one or more stages of the turbine. Such steam is cons t -m ice Patented June 7, 19 60 oneside with a portion 11, which provides an inlet passage for exhaust steam from the turbine. The steam in? let 12 in portion 11 may be rectangular in vertical sec-- tion having opposite walls 13, which converge outwardly from the shell to the steam inlet and terminate in hori: zontal portions 13a. Opposite walls 14 may converge outwardly from the shell to the steam inlet and terminate in vertical portions 14a, similar to portions 13a of the walls 13, and form therewith a frame for connection with the exhaust opening of the turbine. j;

The opposite ends of the shell are provided with flanges and have secured thereto respectively tube sheets 15 and 16 and water boxes 17 and 18. Tubes 19 connect to the tube sheets and are arranged in a nest comprising two or more equal banks 20 and 21 formed one above the other and spaced to define therebetween a horizontal central lane or lanes 23. Water box 18 has a horizontal ly, diametrically disposed pass partition 24 and two nozzles .25 and 26. Referring to Fig. l, the nozzle 25 admits cooling water to the compartment below the pass partition for flow through the tubes of the lower tube bank 20-to the water box 17 and thence in reverse direction through the tubes of the upper bank 21 to the water box compartment above the partition and out through the nozzle 26. Thus the condenser as illustrated is a two-pass unit 'but the number of passes may be varied by densed in its passage through the heaters and the condensateis also returned to the'boiler. This condensate,- together with makeup water, as required for the boiler, should be deaerated before introduction to the boiler and it is customary to provide a separate ,deaerator unit for I The deaerated water is then pumped from t that purpose. such unit through one or moreheater's to*the boiler.

" An object of our invention is to provide acombined v steam condensing and deaerating apparatus devised too-bdeaerating means.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction of high vacuum, surface= condenser adapted especially for large sizes. in which each; eondenser'tube contributes the maximum area possible to' active condensation of steam. 3

I Astill'further object of our invention is to providean improved condensing unit wherein exhaustst'eam from a side exhaust or end exhaust turbine may be "conveniently introduced through a side inlet in the unit with a'resultant substantial saving in supporting-structure and head room and wherein the inlet area of the nest of condensing tubes 7 is at a maximum so that the velocity of the steam entering the nest of tubes is materially reduced and thepaths of 'steam fiow converge toward points of complete 'c'ondensationa l tain advantageous cooperation of condenser features with nozzles 33 and 34 to maintain a desired vacuum. Such .Each tube bank has an air pfftakebaifie structure which includes wall'27, 28 and 29 and 30, 31 and 32, respectively; the ends of each'baffle structure being'open so that non-condensible gases may be withdrawn from both banks through nozzles 33 and 34. With each bafile structureisa portion of thetubes of the respective bank whichact as an air cooler section. Also within each 'bafile structure -are transversely disposed interleaving baffle plates 35fand 36; which are spaced toprovide a tortuous path of flow for the 1:lon-condensible gases; A

steam jet ejector, not shown, may be connected to an ejector may deliver.to:the-.usual inter and after condenser combination, not shown. I

. Beneatlipthe'shell lllt'there'is a hot well, 37, witch's:

' 'large storage capacity. Within the upper portion ofthe Further objects andadvantages'of our invention:will

appear from the following, description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: y Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a condenser unit embodying the invention, the section being on, the

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Figured, partly broken away;

. Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing in detail the deaerating means located in the steam inlet portion of the condenser of Figure 1;

steam power system embodying a side exhaust turbine and our invention.

hot well, there are deaeratingmeans forjv the condensate drained from the tube banks. Such means includes perforated shower. trays 38 and 39 with'upmrned outer edges.

These trays extend horizontally the .fulllength of the hot 7 well but do not individually span the full ,width of the hot well. -'-All of the shower trays are welded ,orotherwise suitably secured to the adjacentwalls of the .hot swell. Air ofitake'pipes, not shown, may lead from opposite sides of the hot well, at points between trays 38 Y Tray'42, which is positioned within the horizontal central lane: 23, receives most of the condensate from the tube bank '21 and showers such condensate to an underlying imperforate plate 43, jwhich isshaped to direct the condenate to the rear side of thecondensersheil where it falls to a point belowthe lower: tube bank and is thereafter directed to the hot well. In showering from-tray 42 to plate 43, the. condensate from 'the upper tube bankyxis substantially reheated, and deaerated; A .weir;;'44 rat the top of the liotwell 37 and within shell 10 is provided 9 a with notched portions 45 whereby condensate from plate 43 is collected in the troughs formed between the ,weir and shell and discharges in divided streams to tray 38. Final deaeration of the upper tube bank condensate occurs as it showers from trays 38 and 39 to thehot well with condensate from the lower tube bank. Tray 41, which underlies tube bank 2%, receives most of the condensate from such lower tube bank and showers such condensate to the'tr ays 38 and 39 in the not well. In showering from the'tray 41" to trays 38 and 39, the condensate from the lower tube bank issubsta'ntially reheated and deaeratcd. Finaldeae'ration of the lower bank condensate occurs as it showers from trays 38 and 39 to the hot well with condensate from the upper tube bank.

All of the shower trays'have their free edges turned up so that the condensatewill' collect sufi'iciently on the trays forpa'ssag'e through thelperforations rather than spillincifec'tually from one edge. The upper edge of the upturned tray portion is notched so that in the event of tray flooding, condensate pouring over a tray edge will fall in a plurality of streams.

Incorporated and coacting with the condensing apparatus there'is app'aratu's'for deaerating a charge of condensate returns from thefeed water heaters and/or boiler make-up water. This dea'erating apparatus includes a deaera'ting device A mounted within the steam inlet portion along theside wall 13. This device includes aplate iddisposed parallel to the wall 13 and spaced therefrom. A plate'47 is located parallel to, and between plate 46 and war-1 3. At an intermediate level in the height of plate ithere is'a perforated showertray or deck 48 which ext'e'nds'f r'orn suchpl'ateto the upper edge of plate 47, terinitiating 'inanupturrred edge 49. Along the lower edge, plate i-Thas an inwardly extending perforated shower tray St? terminating short of plate 46 and having an upturned inner edge. At a level between the deck 48 and tray 50 there is a perforated shower tray 51. This tray extends outwardly from plate 46', terminating short of plate 47 7 and has an upturned outer edge. The plates .46 and 47 and all of said trays extend the full distance between the steam inlet walls '14 and are welded or otherwise suitably secured to walls 14fan'd plates 46 and 47.

At 'thexouter side of one ofthe walls 14 there is a pipe 52 to deliver the chargeto the deaerator device. This 7 vice is spaced upwardly from said troughwhile the lower end of plate 46 extends partially within said trough.

As steam enters the condenser inlet 12a portion of it enters the 'de'aerator A by passage through the spaces between'plate i'l and-wall- 13'and between trays 50, 51 and 48 thereby reheating condensate spraying from nozzles 54 as such' condensate is'de'aerated by showering from tray 7 to tray. I Also; by admitting steam to the deaerator A the pressure on the liquid collected in the trough belowsuch' deaera't'or is equalized on each side of plate 46fwhe'reby liquidcollectingbetween plate 46 and wall 13 is permitted to fiow to the inner side of plate 46 and thence to discharge over weir 44 to the hotwell 37 I n Figure'4 we haveillustrateda modified form B of the deaerator'to be-located' in thecondenser steam inlet.

Thisform' of deaerator includes plate 46a disposed parallel to-the 'wall' l3and spaced therefrom. At an intermediate'levelin the-height of plateea, there isa perforated shower tray or deck 43a, which extends-from such pl ate to wall'13'and is provided with overflow downpipes SS'Open at both ends but sealed at the lowerend in the conden'sateon' -deck 51a; At a levcl'below-deck 48a and pipes '55 is a perforated shower tray 51a. This'tray extehdsoutwardly from 'plate4'6a, terminatingfshort of the wall liand has" an upturned outer edge. Below tray '5 1a is tray 50a which eitthds inwtirdly from wall 13, terminating short of plate 46a. This tray likewisehas an upturned free edge. Below tray 5% is a perforated tray 56 disposed in a manner-similar to tray 51a. The plate 46a and all of said trays extend the full distance between the inlet walls 14 and are Welded or otherwise suitably secured to walls 13 and 1 4 and plate 46a. Pipe 53a extends throughout most of the length of t he deaerator and is spaced above deck 43a and has a row of spray nozzles 54 which direct condensate charge to said deck, The Generator device B is spaced upwardly fromthetrougb formed betweenwall 1 3 and weir 44 with the lower end of plate 46a extending partially within said trough.

As stearnrenters the condenser inlet 12 a portion of it enters the deaerator B by passage through openings 57 and thence between trays 56 Eda, 1a and 43a there-by reheating and deaerating condensate as it showers downwardly from tray to tray. As previously described the admission of steam to the deaerator equalize s the pressure on the liquid on either side of plate 46a.

Air ofitake pipes SSand 58a lead from the space between the trays 48 and 51 and 43a and 51a, respectively, of the deaerator devices A or B within the steam inlet. These pipes remove non-condensible vapors and extend across the condenser and then upwardly within the shell and open into one of. the air ofitake bafiie structures at points adjacent the air-cooling tuses contained therein, keeping the air out of contact with the condensate from tube banks 20 and '21 so it will not be reabsorbed,

In the operation of the apparatus, exhaust steam passes from the turbine T (Fig. 5) into the condenser, and con densate is withdrawn from the hot well 37 through a pipe 59 and passed in succession through the tube side of a drain cooler C and a plurality of feed water heaters H,

heatthewater flowing through the tube side of the heaters by indirect heat exchange. Condensate. of the steam within-the heaters may be passed through pipe 60 from one heater to another, and through a pipe 61 to the drain cooler C and thence through deaerating means located in the condenser inlet before joining the condenser. conden sate in the hot wellh37. Make-up Water may be supplied, as needed, to the system at any suitable point.

Usually a vacuum rangingfrom 26 to 29inches will be maintained within the condenser and this vacuum will exist within each deaerator. r p I It is known-that; in order to obtain the. necessary condensing surface without unduly increasing the size of the condensergthe tube spacing adjacentthe steam inlet perimeter of the nest oftubes must of necessity be such asto occasionno objectionable loss in vacuum between the point or points of complete condensationwithinthe tube nest and the steaminlet to the condenser. Toovercome objectionable lossesof vacuum, the cooling tubes 19 are distributed so a s;;t o; increase the inlet area ofthe nest of tubes so thatthe velocity of steam {flow entering the nest of tubes is materially reduced. below that employed in ordinary condensers. Likewise the condensing "surface is so distributed that the paths of steam flow con verge toward the air offtakeibaffle structures,

Toaccomplish the above andprimarily to eliminate the massive structure generally requiredltosupport the turbine abovewthe;condensing unit, the present invention utilizes aside inlet to thejcondenserwith the tubes divided inletfacing directly into the turbine exhaust. V Theltubes ofeach group are distributed to obtain the advantage .5 gained by having the condensing surface so distributed that the areas of steam flow diminish from the steam space toward the air oiftakes in substantially direct pro-' portion to the decrease in condensation taking place along the paths of steam flow, or in direct proportion to the decrease in volume of uncondensed vapor along the path of flow.

While the invention is disclosed as employed in power plant service, it may be employed advantageously in other services requiring surface condenser equipment where it is particularly desirable to support the prime mover on the same level with such condenser. It is, of course, to be understood that the present disclosure of the invention is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that the invention comprehends such modifications as will fall within the scope of the following claims.

In the claims, the word steam, except whereidentified with a steam power system, is intended to comprehend other vapors also, and the word air, wherever it occurs, is intended to comprehend also other non-condensible gaseous media.

We claim:

1. In a surface condenser unit'including a shell having a side steam inlet passage, a nest of substantially horizontal condensing tubes located within ,said shell and streams, said chamber having a steam inlet below said trays for admitting steam from said side steam inlet passage, said trays being arranged to cause serpentine I groups of tubes for passage of the air toth'e air off-take means associated therewith; and a trough disposed beneath said trays and extending between the terminal divided into at least two superposed groups of tubes, each partially deaerated water from said deaeration apparatus,

a deaerating device within said hot well for deaeration of said condensate and for final deaeration of the water received from said deaeration apparatus, and an air otttake means leading from a relatively cool portion of each said steam inlet passage comprising: aplate disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the declining bottom wall thereby defining with said bottom wall a deaeration chamber within said steam inlet passage; a

water delivery conduit leading from outside of the condenser unit, said conduit being in water delivery communrcation with said chamber and free from condensate receiving communication with the condenser unit to deliver to said chamber the water to be heated and partially deaerated; superposed trough-like shower trays located within said chamber below said delivery conduit and disposed so as to cause the water received from said delivery conduit to discharge downwardly and successively through said superposed trays as a plurality of fine 40 group of tubes, the improved deaerationapparatus within portion of said declining bottom wall and the hot well for collecting water discharged from said trays, the lower portion of'said chamber defining plate extending into said trough to a point just short. of the bottom thereof whereby water discharged from said trays collects within said chamber in one portion of said trough and after flowing under the lower edge of said plate discharges into the hot well from ,a second portion of said trough disposed outside of said chamber.

2. A surface condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plate which is disposed within the side steam inlet passage so as to define, with the bottom wall of said inlet passage, a deaeration chamber and which extends into the trough disposed beneath the trays located within said chamber, contains the steam inlet for admitting steam from said steam inlet passage to said chamber for serpentine flow to the air ofltake conduit leading from said chamber. i V

3. A surface condenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deaeration chambendefined by the inclined bottom wall of the side steam inlet passage and a'plate disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from said bottom wall, is provided with a baffle plate, disposed between said inclined bottom wall and said spaced plate, which terminates and supports at its upper edge the uppermost shower tray and which extends to and supports at its lower edge the lowest showertray, said bathe plate defining with said bottom wall the steam inlet for admittinglsteam from said steam inlet passage to said chamber'below said lowest tray for serpentine flow to the air ofitake conduit leading from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,540 Morison Dec. 27, 1910 1,812,591 Grace June 30, 1931 1,855,231 I Grace Apr. 26, 1932 2,247,514 7 Mart July 1, 1941 2,542,873 Karr Feb. 20, 1951 2,663,547 Evans et a1. Dec. 22, 1953 ,FOREIGN PATENTS 417,256 Germany Aug. 10, 1925 17,054 7 Australia Nov. 27, 1928 

